Akron vs. Creighton Prediction: Can the Zips Upset Ryan Kalkbrenner, Bluejays in NCAA Tournament Round of 64?
Akron vs. Creighton Prediction: Can the Zips Upset Ryan Kalkbrenner, Bluejays in NCAA Tournament Round of 64?
We know the NCAA Tournament is filled with upsets, but what sports bettors do you know that are giving out (+650) underdogs? I’ve got a No. 14 seed that’s been looking at me funny since the brackets were released on Sunday night. Let’s cut the small-talk and dive right into it…
Akron vs. Creighton DATE, TIME, AND WHERE TO WATCH
- Date: March 18, 2024
- Game Time: 1:30 pm ET
- Where to Watch: TNT
Akron vs. Creighton Prediction
The Creighton Bluejays have been one of the most inconsistent teams in college basketball this season. After a full season of watching Ryan Kalkbrenner and this Bluejays squad, it’s clear that they can beat or lose to any team on any given night. Unfortunately for this Creighton team, they drew a brutal matchup in the first round.
Akron shouldn’t even be in this tournament. Kent State intentionally fouled up one with 00:04 left on the clock, sending Akron to the line for an improbable victory. The Zips are lucky to even be here, and they even got a lucky draw as they matchup great against Creighton. Let’s just hope that luck carries into the first round of the NCAA Tournament…
Ryan Kalkbrenner might be one of the best offensive-minded bigs in this tournament, but he is softer than tissue paper on the defensive end. He will have his hands full guarding Enrique Freeman, Akron’s best player and leading scorer, on Thursday. I’m fully expecting Freeman to give Kalkbrenner fits on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball in this contest.
The Zips have a top-50 defense in the country. If Creighton plays soft like they have in a lot of the big games this season, Akron’s defense will shine. They are also a significantly better offensive rebounding team, which isn’t surprising considering Kalkbrenner is down low for the Bluejays. Expect Akron to capitalize on second-chance points with Freeman and Hunter grabbing offensive rebounds early and often for the Zips.
We’ve seen how sporadic this Creighton team is. They just lost to Providence giving up 20 shots to their big man Oduro. This Akron frontcourt should dominate in this matchup, regardless of what seeds these two teams are. Creighton couldn’t have drawn a worse matchup in the first round, but they didn’t really deserve any better.
The early-money betting splits couldn’t be sharper for Akron. They are currently bringing in less than 20% of the bets but more than 40% of the handle on the moneyline in this matchup (per VSIN). Big bets are being placed on Akron to not only cover against Creighton, but knock them out of the tournament. Grab the Zips on the spread before Thursday’s tip, and don’t be afraid to sprinkle something on the moneyline as well. This game will be much closer than oddsmakers are predicting.
Akron vs. Creighton Picks
Akron +12.5 (-110) Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds
Akron ML (+650) .5u Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds
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Article Author
Krabs is a contrarian bettor who isn’t afraid to fade the public or go against the grain. His betting style not only produces winners but has changed the way many think about the sports betting process. You’ll find Krabs betting on anything from the NFL (at a 60% clip in 2022) to the KBO (8-1-1 in 2022). You won’t find many handicappers with more college basketball knowledge or insight than Krabs. A native of the “DMV,” you can find his work @Krabs_Bets on Twitter, or on Behind the Lines, his daily sports betting show on twitch.